As of June 13, 2025, Israel’s Operation “Rising Lion” has resulted in significant casualties among Iranian military and nuclear personnel. The Israeli Air Force conducted extensive strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. The strike resulted in significant casualties among high-ranking Iranian officials and nuclear scientists, shaking the core of Iran’s defense and scientific establishments. With both nations now on high alert and regional tensions soaring, Operation Rising Lion has drawn global attention, triggering urgent calls for de-escalation amid fears of a broader Middle East conflict.
Key figures reported killed in these attacks include:
Hossein Salami- Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps chief, General Hossein Salami, has been killed in the preemptive strikes Israel launched against Tehran during the early hours of Friday. Iranian state television confirmed Gen Salami’s death. Salami, born in 1960 in Golpayegan, Iran, joined the IRGC during the Iran–Iraq War and rose through its ranks. He became the IRGC’s commander-in-chief in 2019, succeeding Mohammad Ali Jafari. Salami was known for his aggressive rhetoric against Israel and the United States, advocating for Iran’s missile program and regional influence.
Mohammad Bagheri- Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes. He has been a pivotal figure in Iran’s military strategy and operations. Appointed as the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Bagheri was instrumental in overseeing Iran’s military capabilities, particularly in the context of its involvement in regional conflicts and its contentious relationship with Israel. His role extended beyond military tactics, as he was also involved in strategic planning and international military cooperation, particularly with allies such as Hezbollah and various Shia militias in Iraq and Syria.
Gholam Ali Rashid- Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, born in 1953 in Dezful, Khuzestan, Iran, was a prominent figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He served as the commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, a key operational command responsible for coordinating joint military operations within the Iranian Armed Forces. Previously, he held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and was a senior commander during the Iran–Iraq War. Rashid was known for his assertive rhetoric, declaring that any military action against Iran by the United States would be a strategic mistake. He also emphasized Iran’s military presence in Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, highlighting the country’s regional influence. In recognition of his military service, Rashid was posthumously awarded the Order of Fath (1st class), one of Iran’s highest military honors.
Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani- Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, born on July 11, 1958, in Abadan, Iran, was a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist and a senior figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He held a Ph.D. in nuclear physics from Amir Kabir University and served as a faculty member at several institutions, including Shahid Beheshti University and Imam Hossein University, both affiliated with the IRGC. Abbasi-Davani survived an assassination attempt in November 2010 when a bomb attached to his car injured him. The attack was widely attributed to Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies, though neither country confirmed involvement. Despite the attack, he continued his work in Iran’s nuclear sector. In the 2020 parliamentary elections, Abbasi-Davani was elected as a member of the Iranian Parliament, representing Kazerun. He served on the energy commission, continuing his influence in Iran’s nuclear policy.
Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi- Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi (1965–2025) was a prominent Iranian theoretical physicist and academic leader. He served as a professor in the Department of Physics at Shahid Beheshti University and held leadership roles in higher education, including President of the Islamic Azad University and former rector of both the Central Tehran and Tehran Province branches of the university. Before his death, Tehranchi was reported to have been involved in Iran’s nuclear weapons program, specifically as a subproject supervisor of the Amad Plan, which was responsible for testing nuclear explosions.
Ali Shamkhani- Shamkhani’s military career began during the Iran–Iraq War, where he served in various capacities within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He later held key positions, including Commander of the IRGC Navy and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) from 2013 to 2023. During his tenure, he was instrumental in shaping Iran’s security policies and played a central role in regional diplomacy, notably facilitating the 2023 China-brokered rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The targeted airstrikes, which decimated Iran’s top military and nuclear leadership in just one night, have not only crippled the country’s strategic command but also amplified the volatility of an already tense Middle East. With high-ranking figures, including military commanders and nuclear scientists, among the casualties, the operation has left Iran reeling and has raised the stakes for future confrontations. As both nations brace for the aftermath, the ripple effects of this attack will likely reverberate across the region, potentially reshaping alliances, military strategies, and diplomatic efforts in the years to come.
